Be Still | The Ale Apothecary

Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed with roasted barley and biscuit malts, the structure of Be Still comes from acid produced by Ale Apoth's house lactobacillus as well as acid from brettanomyces and pediococcus activity during 10 months of slow aging in rye whiskey and fresh pinot noir barrels. The rye and wine portions are then blended together and allowed to sit on cascara (the sun-dried exterior fruit of the coffee bean) and cocoa nibs... adding depth and complexity.

A: This purposefully uncarbonated beer pours a deep, unassuming brown with rusty, reddish hints. It is a bit hazy, though mostly clear, especially at the edges. Obviously, no carbonation or lacing are present, but there are slight alcohol legs. Viscosity appears to be medium, happily yet surprisingly as syrupy can be a worry with still beer of 8%+. 3.75/5

A: Tart red currants, tart cherries (could be the cascara), and tons of dark fruit (especially figs) dominate. Leathery Brett blends with lots of rich red wine fruitiness and cocoa. Finally dry, spicy rye whiskey and alcohol finish it out. The only drawback is that a sour vinegar does seem to take the aroma over as it warms, though not entirely. This is exceedingly complex and sophisticated, and if it were not for what wine drinkers would deem "off-flavors," could appeal greatly to fans of that libation. 4/5

T: Despite the warning from the aroma of what could have been overly sour vinegar, the flavor comes through delicately and as sophisticated as the bottle implies. Sure, up front there is definitely tart cherry and acidic red currant, but it gives way quickly to sweet figs, dark chocolate, and fruity Pinot, all in perfect harmony. Finally, as in the nose, spicy rye whiskey and dry, leathery Brett (plus some tannins) come and clean the palate out, leaving behind a hint of tobacco and toffee. Exemplary and so unique in its execution, this is a perfectly balanced beer that really edges into wine flavor territory. 4.75/5

M: Again, this is obviously flat, but it works due to how wine-like the beer reads on the palate. The mild acidity helps keep it a little lively as well and causes the slightest pucker. It is pleasantly viscous (more than it seemed). There is some tannic drying and slight alcohol heat in the very back end, but neither is unpleasant, rather it seems like a red wine even more so. 4.75/5

O: There is not much like this beer out there. Ale Apothecary may be expensive, but they are all so interesting and generally so well-executed that it is hard to call them overpriced. Everything about this completely flat beer just works. It is obvious that they were going for a wine-like brew (from the bottle to the cork to the label to the appearance to the flavors and so on), and they succeeded, coming out like a Bordeaux blend. Needless to say, it is completely delicious and will score most highly with dual fans of wine and beer. Still beer is still fairly underground, but with prominent names like AA and Cory King of Side Project showing interest, this could become more popular in the future. Drink near room temperature for best results. Pair with Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." 4.75/5